Admission & Financial Aid Diversity Outreach Interns

Mica Nimkarn ’24

Hometown: ​Queens, New York
High School: The Bronx High School of Science
Major: Sexuality, Women's & Gender Studies
Activities on campus: Asian Students Association, Southeast Asian Students Association, The Stream Magazine, Dance and Step at Amherst College, Asian and Pacific American Action Committee, Research in the Anthropology and SWAGS departments
Hobbies: Tap dance, embroidery, thrifting, cooking
Languages Spoken: English and Thai
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Hi everyone! I am Mica Nimkarn, a sophomore from Queens, New York. I am an Anthropology and Sexuality, Women's and Gender Studies (SWAGS) major and I am currently doing research in the Anthropology department studying Thai international students and assisting in the SWAGS department. I am Thai-American, First-generation Low Income (FLI) and queer. On campus I am involved in Asian affinity groups and advocating for an Asian American Studies department on campus. I am also a dancer and a part of Dance and Step at Amherst College. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about being any of the identities I listed above at Amherst, or any of the clubs I am a part of!

Mikayah Monique Parsons ’24

Hometown: ​Taylorsville, North Carolina
High School: Alexander Early College
Major: American Studies, History, Black Studies, and English with a concentration in Black Feminist Literary Theory
Activities on campus: Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, Dining Services Employee, Social Media Coordinator for the Office of Fellowships, Social Media Manager for The Indicator, Writer for The Indicator, Wellness Team Member, Writer for The Amherst Student
Hobbies: Creative writing, poetry, escaping reality through movies and books
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Hello, folks! I'm Mikayah (she/her/hers), a first-generation, low-income Black and Latina woman from Taylorsville, North Carolina. I matched to Amherst through QuestBridge and participated in the summer bridge program. I am a resident of the Charles Drew Memorial Cultural House, an affinity housing space for Black students. I feel most connected to the Black and FLI communities on campus. I am currently writing a senior honors thesis on the cultural capital Amherst asks its students to negotiate in the admissions process, and look at how students respond to the institution's diversity, equity, and inclusion rhetoric. If you have any questions about how my various identities show up on the Amherst College campus, feel free to reach out. It can be hard to navigate the culture and resources at Amherst College, and the institution is not perfect. However, there are several resources in place that go under the radar – resources that can help make your time here most beneficial to you. Drop me a line if you feel so inclined :).

Zaki Ellis M'hammedi Alaoui ’24

Hometown: ​Milton, MA
High School: Milton Academy
Major: Neuroscience
Activities on campus: Muslim Student Association E-Board, Neuroscience Research, Amherst College Rugby, Black Student Union
Hobbies: Playing baseball, Reading philosophy, Weightlifting, and Watching anime!
Languages Spoken: English, French, a bit of Moroccan Arabic, and a little bit of Dutch!
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Hi All! I am Zaki Alaoui and I’m a senior from Milton, Massachusetts (20 minutes away from Boston). I am super grateful to be a part of the Diversity Outreach Team! I am a neuroscience major, specifically interested in research within cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychiatric disorders and the question of consciousness.

I started at Milton Academy at 4 months old in the infant room and have stayed there up until high school graduation. I loved my primary school experience, but I know that there is still work to be done to get underrepresented students into higher education and predominantly white institutions. I was a participant of DIVOH (now A2A) during my senior year and taking part in the program really helped me find my way to Amherst. I was able to see how much Amherst cared for their students and community members before I was even accepted into the school.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the Amherst experience, what it was like to navigate starting college during a pandemic, or the several resources and support systems on campus!

Adam Johnson-Hill ’25

Hometown: New York City, New York
High School: The Dalton School
Major: Economics and Black Studies
Activities on campus: Black Student Union, Amherst Club Rugby, WAMH, Diversity Outreach Intern
Hobbies: Watching the Boondocks, Music Curation 
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Adam (He/him) is a third-year Economics and Black Studies major from the Harlem neighborhood in New York City. When he is not studying in the Science Center or Beneski, he can be found tossing a ball at the bottom of the memorial hill. When he is not working in the admissions office, Adam is involved in the Black Student Union, the Club Rugby, and the African Caribbean Student Union. He currently lives in the Charles Drew African American Culture House, and he would love to answer any questions about Amherst's theme housing process. Adam is an Access 2 Amherst alum, an experience he often cites as the main reason he applied to Amherst College. 

Amelie Justo-Sainz ’25

Hometown: San Francisco, California
High School: Mercy High School Burlingame
Major: Sociology & Latinx, Latin American Studies
Activities on campus: Tour guide, La Causa
Hobbies: Listening to music, reading & binge watching Grey's Anatomy on Netflix
Languages Spoken: English and Spanish
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
 

Hello! My name is Amelie, and I am from San Francisco, California. Coming from a big city, I was a little wary of moving to a small town, but Amherst quickly became my home away from home. It did not take long for me to find my people, especially with how welcoming everyone is here. In my free time, you will most likely find me at Val, making an iced coffee, or in one of Frost’s study rooms, studying (but mostly hanging out) with friends. 

The college process can be very isolating for students who identify as first generation, low income, and BIPOC. I remember how crucial the diversity outreach programs and people from the admission office were to my experience of getting to know Amherst. It was comforting to attend Diversity Outreach events because it allowed me to discover that there were others like me on campus and a strong community I can rely on. I want to be that comfort and support system for you all! 

Feel free to reach out with any questions! 

diversity@amherst.edu

Patience Kum ’25 (Currently Studying Abroad)

Hometown: Takoradi, Ghana
High School: The Taft School
Major: Economics, Political Science
Activities on campus: Women's soccer, Investment Club, CACSAC, Five, Sports Statistician, Conversation partner for  Five College Supervised Independent Language Program
Hobbies: Swimming, watching college soccer & basketball
Languages Spoken: Twi, Fanti, English, a little bit of French
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Patience is an international student from Takoradi, Ghana. She is a sophomore majoring in Economics and Political Science. She loves learning different languages from being exposed to more than fifty languages growing up in Ghana. In addition to being a diversity outreach intern, she works as a Twi conversation partner for the Five College Supervised Independent Language Program. She’s on the women’s soccer team, a member of the Council of Amherst College Student-Athletes of Color, and the Investment Club. During her free time, she helps coach middle schoolers at a middle school close to campus and watches Premier League soccer. She was nervous about feeling out of place and not belonging at Amherst but the close-knit international community quickly made her feel at ease. Ask her anything about being away from home!​ 

Shreya Susan Mathew ’25 (Currently Studying Abroad)

Hometown: Kerala, India
High School: Sarvodaya Central Vidyalaya
Major: Economics and Statistics
Activities on campus: Communications Organizer for CISE, SASA Women's Collective Chair, Teaching Assistant for Econometrics and Macroeconomics, MUN
Hobbies: Guitar, Content Creation, Public Speaking, Foodie!
Languages Spoken: English, Malayalam, Hindi
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Hi! My name is Shreya Susan Mathew, and I am a junior from Kerala, India. I'm majoring in Economics and Statistics. Most of my free time between classes is spent at the Center for International Student Engagement (CISE), where I also work as the Communications Organizer. You might also find me at Converse Hall when I'm holding my TA (Teaching Assistant) hours for Economics. I love meeting new people, trying out new restaurants, engaging in content creation, brainstorming random business ideas, and singing. My strong belief in empowerment through equity and access to information motivated me to be part of the Diversity Outreach Intern Team with the Office of Admission. Reflecting on my journey at Amherst as a low-income international student, I am grateful for how my transition to this new community has pushed my boundaries and deepened my understanding of cultures, identities, and values. I'm super excited to meet all of you!

Tiia Maleah McKinney ’25 (Currently Studying Abroad)

Hometown: Eleuthera, The Bahamas
High School: The Pennington School
Major: Law Jurisprudence and Social Thought (LJST), Spanish
Activities on campus: Diversity Intern, Tour Guide, Black Student Union, African Caribbean Students Associations, School Newspaper: The Student, The Indicator (Literary Magazine)
Hobbies: Listening to music, painting or doodling, watching Netflix, listening to mystery and horror podcasts
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Tiia McKinney ‘25 (she/her) is a junior from Eleuthera, The Bahamas. She is a prospective Law Jurisprudence and Social Thought (LJST) and Spanish double major. She loves connecting with others through languages, and she hopes to travel around the world. Tiia would like to make a difference in her communities through law one day. Ever since coming to Amherst, Tiia has gotten to explore more of the world, and experience brutal winters that are a little different to the winters that she is used to. Tiia loves hanging out in the Center for International Engagement (CISE) and she is a Caribbean Chair on the African Caribbean Students Union board this year. Tiia is tour guide this year in addition to being a diversity intern. Outside of these activities, she loves spending time with friends, watching movies, painting, and listening to music on walks. She is so excited to meet everyone coming to Amherst this year from anywhere in the world or even in the state. She is more than willing to answer any questions from students who are curious about Amherst just like she was. 

Jada Grant ’26

Hometown: Harlem, New York
High School: Riverdale Country School
Major: Law Jurisprudence and Social Thought (LJST), Religion
Activities on campus: BSU Social Chair, ACSU, La Causa, DASAC Media Coordinator
Hobbies: Reading, Baking, Air Frying, Skateboarding
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Hi Everyone, My name is Jada Grant and I'm a sophomore from Harlem, New York. When I was applying to Amherst, one of the factors in my decision to apply early was my A2A experience. Although it was virtual, it was comforting to see people who looked like me thriving at Amherst and offering advice to marginalized students, which motivated me to interview for the Diversity Intern position to be a part of this work. On campus, I love dancing, having late night conversations with my friends, and trying new foods in the general Amherst area. I am happy to answer questions about anything, especially about black student life, DASAC, or the religion major.

Daniela Rosario ’26

Hometown: Lawrence, Massachusetts
High School: Central Catholic High School
Major:  Computer Science and Math
Activities on campus: La Causa, Women in Computer Science Club, Tour Guide, Diversity Outreach Intern
Hobbies: Crocheting, drawing, teaching myself new crafts, listening to music, hanging out with friends
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Hey everyone my name is Daniela but all my friends call me Dani. I'm from Lawrence, Massachusetts, am currently a sophomore and am majoring in computer science and math. Outside of my major you will find me taking as many art classes as possible because I love to make art. You will always catch me in my professor's office hours doing my homework and learning about their work outside of the class. In my free time I spend time with my friends either in the library, a resource center in Keefe or in Val. We also enjoy walking to town and grabbing a late night meal at Antonio’s.

As a first-generation, low-income student diversity was one of the most important factors in considering colleges. Amherst was a place that I felt very welcome and it’s a place I want to share with others, which is why I decided to become a Diversity Outreach Intern.

Feel free to reach out to us! 

Kayly Vargas ’26

Hometown: New York City, New York
High School: Manhattan Village Academy
Major: Psychology
Activities on campus: La Causa, Questbridge Low-Income Community
Hobbies: Watching movies, cooking/baking, napping
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Hey everyone! My name is Kayly (Kay-lee), and I'm a psychology major from NYC. When I first applied to Amherst, I didn't know anything about the college at all. So when I matched through Questbridge, I was nervous about what to expect as a student of color here, especially coming from a large and diverse city like New York. But after being here and finding all sorts of affinity groups, like La Causa and the Questbridge Low-Income Community, I've found a community of my own away from home. If you want to know more about my experiences with adjusting to college, the many resources and support systems available to students, or where to get some good food in town, feel free to reach out! :)

Dineth Wijayawardana ’26

Hometown: Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
High School: Elizabeth Moir School, Colombo
Major: Math, Physics
Activities on campus: Chess Club, Putnam Club, Phys-125 Lab TA, Gregory Call intern in Professor Hall's Lab, Outing Club
Hobbies: Playing and learning chess, watching NBA analysis videos, eating good food
Languages Spoken: English, Sinhala
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Hi! My name is Dineth, and I'm a Sophomore majoring in Math and Physics. I'm an international student from Sri Lanka. I love playing chess, and have done so for over 10 years now. If you are reading this, definitely join the chess club! I also watch basketball extensively, and am a strong believer that LeBron James is the greatest basketball player to ever walk the planet. Beyond sports (if you consider chess a sport, which the International Olympic Committee does), traveling the world greatly interests me. I just finished three weeks traveling through mainland Japan, and some other places I really want to visit include Utah for stargazing, Wyoming for Yellowstone, California, Washington, Iceland, Bolivia, the Maldives, China, and India. Photographing my travels is also a casual hobby, though for now I just have my phone and in the future would love to invest in a proper camera.

I became a Diversity Outreach Intern because of the impact diversity has had on me. One of my most eye-opening experiences has been making friends of all walks of life at Amherst, who have taught me lessons I never even knew I needed to learn. Though this impact is intangible, it is very real. I feel it most when speaking with high school friends, who attend institutions abroad that place little focus on diversity in their admissions process. I notice how ostracized my friends feel in comparison to me, since their institutions simply don’t make as much of an effort as a place like Amherst College to bridge the gap between students of different backgrounds. No student should ever have to feel that way, and as a Diversity Outreach Intern I hope to ensure that nobody at Amherst ever does.

Audrey Zhou ’26

Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma
High School: Norman North High School
Major: Political Science
Activities on campus: Amherst Debate Society, Asian Student Association, Asian Cultural House
Hobbies: Doordashing food and watching dramas
Languages Spoken: English, Mandarin
Pronouns: Any pronouns

Hi all! My name is Audrey, and I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma. I am a prospective political science major with an interest in economics as well. I hope to pursue a future in public policy, and I am particularly curious about international affairs. At Amherst, I participate in Parliamentary Debate and serve on the E-board of the Asian Student Association. I also live in the Asian Cultural House.

Identifying as Chinese, queer, and coming from a low-income background, I deeply value the significance of diversity outreach programs. These initiatives have been instrumental in shaping my journey to Amherst. I have had the opportunity to try many new things that I would never have been able to experience without the resources Amherst provides for FLI students. I love that Amherst fosters a strong sense of community that has made college feel like a second home!

Outside of academics, I really enjoy discovering good eats, studying in cafes, and window shopping. I am always open to talking about anything, ranging from my experiences with my identities at Amherst to my favorite boba spots.